Jewish Mormons celebrate two cultures, eye one faith

The comment about Jewish being a nationality is not correct at all; moderator
please note this and remove the incorrect statement. If it's a popular
comment, then you have people believing that false statement. Judaism is a
culture and a race, found world wide, not just in the one well-known nation -
and by the way there are other cultures and religions in Israel.

maclouieFalconer, NY

April 15, 2014 12:16 p.m.

sukiyhtaky:

I suppose you, your friends, and their dead are insulted
by the Christian Jews that live in Israel as well. Or maybe I misunderstand and
you can explain why anyone would be insulted.

sukiyhtakyus, CA

April 10, 2014 1:39 a.m.

I ran this by my orthodox Jewish friends and they are in agreement with
me...this is an insult to all observant Jews living and/or dead. I think before
the church has another PR fiasco on its hands, they need to quietly encourage
the group to disband. If converts feel the need to hold on to vestiges of
Judaism, they were not really converted. What next Nazi Jews?

Nathan8 Olivehurst, CA

April 9, 2014 4:10 p.m.

I wonder how many people commenting merely don't understand Christianity
vs. how many don't understand and knowingly don't represent
responsible opinions. The New Testament makes it very clear that the Apostles
were both Jews and Christians, along with the first several thousand
Christians.

For a long time it was either not possible or not likely
to be thought of as a disciple of Jesus Christ without being a Jew. After all,
Jesus was the "Jewish" Messiah - not originally thought of as a
gentile's Christ.

Bible Christians first doubted whether a
gentile could be a Christian and now people are wondering whether one can be a
Jew and a Christian? This irony would not be believable in the days of the New
Testament.

Of course people can be of the Jewish religion and the
Mormon religion because The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is that
"sect of the Jews" restored.

danielPANewcastle, WA

April 9, 2014 12:43 a.m.

Jew is both a RACE having a culture, and a religion - actually, many religions,
many factions. Not a nationality. Sure, someone of the Jewish race can accept
Christ, and can go all the way (get MORE). It's not easy, and it's not
one size fits all. It will be the same for Muslims that start getting the light
in their eyes.

Looking at comments, sure a lot of skeptics out there.
Or is it cynics.

Info: There are Black Mormons out there
(that's a race also) and the brethren set up an organization for them,
also: the Genesis Group.

Some Muslims are joining the Church. I would
expect that an organization would help them assimilate into the Church, and help
the Church understand them, and help members understand how to respect and
appreciate them.

The previous comment is right on, the Prophet
Joseph's statement. Virtually the same statement has been made by many
prophets since, such as President Hinckley. Now go back just six months for
President Uchtdorf's statement.

As the Prophet Joseph said, "We
don't ask any people to throw away any good they have got; we only ask them
to come and get more."

LDS LiberalFarmington, UT

April 7, 2014 3:37 p.m.

My Family is Russian-Jews (ala, Fiddler on the Roof).We're
Mormons.

As others have noted -- You can be Jewish and
Mormon.

[One is Culture, the other Religion.]

Sort of like
-- Utah Mormons.[you know, Living the Utah culture, but not really
believing the Religion.]

greatbam22andrews afb, MD

April 7, 2014 9:16 a.m.

Donn,

It is interesting how you have all these quotes of things
Prophets have said. Maybe at the time they were said they were true? Who
exactly were they said to specifically? Missionaries? How many were there when
they were spoken? 1, 2, 10, 100?

If you don't know the context
in how things are said you can make up all sorts of things and plenty of people
have!

In the scripture is does speak about how the first will be last
and the last will be first. That is all I have to say.

OwlSalt Lake City, UT

April 6, 2014 4:40 p.m.

Joining the LDS Church does not mean giving up worthwhile heritages, be they
Native American, African, Latino, Jewish, Scottish, etc. Not all of us are
Scandinavian or English.

donnlayton, UT

April 6, 2014 2:38 p.m.

JM, “if you wished to be honest you would include more....eg ….We
have men among us who were Jews, and became converted from Judaism. For
instance, here is brother Neibaur; Brigham Young explains his belief that we are
all adopted into Joseph when we join the Church, although we might be of a
different tribe etc.”?

“do I believe there is one
particle of the blood of Judah in his veins? No, not so much as could be seen on
the point of the finest cambric needle, through a microscope with a magnifying
power of two millions. This is a secret that you will perhaps find out, in a
coming day, to your satisfaction. The Lord knew how to preach to the Jews, and
told them what the truth was. You may as well undertake to command the most
degraded of these Indian tribes, and give them arms and accoutrements, and try
to put them through the regular military exercise, as to preach to the Jews to
make them believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.” .(JoD V. 2 p. 142).

StalbyCity, 00

April 6, 2014 9:11 a.m.

Happy to see it is possible within the Mormon faith to express your heritage,
and that's exactly what happens here. As a Jew it was nice to read this
article. TX

Tahoemormon1970North Salt Lake, UT

April 6, 2014 9:03 a.m.

Oh, come now 'Scientist'! Don't be so caught up in nonsensical
labels. I am of European heritage(meaning German-Italian-Irish[dad's side]
and Scottish-English-Welsh[mom's side]) but no Jewish heritage to speak of;
however, spiritually I feel akin to those from father Judah because I recognize
the Old Testament as an integral part of our worship and understanding of who
God is, who we are and our divine relation to Him. I have taken Old Testament
classes both church-taught and secular and I believe that scripture to be
replete with hidden gems and it, too, can bring us back to the presence of Our
Heavenly Father. You want to better understand the Abrahamic Covenant, then
read the OT, or do you want to know as much as is available about the Twelve
Tribes of Israel, study the OT. Isaiah a little hard to chew and digest? Then
engross yourself in Jewish custom and see the world through their eyes and the
mysteries will unfold like the petals of a dying rose. You want to know why
Jews are the way they are, then dive into the OT!

JMLehi, UT

April 5, 2014 10:53 p.m.

A Dem is right for once :). Jewishness is not simply a religion.

don, once again, seems you hacked a quote out of context ; ), if you wished to
be honest you would include more....eg "We have men among us who were Jews,
and became converted from Judaism. For instance, here is brother
Neibaur;..." Brigham Young explains his belief that we are all adopted into
Joseph when we join the Church, although we might be of a different tribe etc.

Utah DemOgden, UT

April 5, 2014 5:14 p.m.

Jewish is a nationality also that's why they exist. Catholic , Lutheran,
Baptist, etc are religions not nationalities.

donnlayton, UT

April 5, 2014 4:35 p.m.

RE: Though not officially sanctioned by or affiliated with the church, the group
is supportive of existing LDS programs. True,

Can you make a
Christian of a Jew? I tell you Nay, If a Jew comes into this church ,and the
blood honestly professes to be a Saint, a follower of Christ, and if the blood
of Judah is in his veins, he will apostatize.(JoD V. 2 p. 142).

FranknessTALLAHASSEE, FL

April 5, 2014 4:21 p.m.

This story was ever so appropriate especially in this day and age where
technology bring us all ever so close. As a Utah native having lived in the
South for so many years, I just really appreciate this story which I believe
should be told more often. We are all so much more enriched to say "more of
culture the better" rather than your alliance ought to be either with these
or those.

skepticPhoenix, AZ

April 5, 2014 3:01 p.m.

ThornBirds, there are mostly JAck Mormons.

The ScientistProvo, UT

April 5, 2014 2:17 p.m.

Jewish Mormons?

What about Catholic Mormons, or Mormon Baptists, or
LDS Jehovah's Witnesses? Is the Church OK with a Hindu Mormon Menonite
Evangelical Scientologists?